(NaturalHealth365) Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease associated with poorly controlled and typically high blood sugar.  Across the globe, type 2 diabetes affects roughly half a billion people.  In America alone, this potentially deadly chronic disease affects about 34.2 million adults – that’s around 1 in 10 of us, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Alarmingly, the CDC notes in their most recent National Diabetes Statistic Report that about 1 in 3 Americans (88 million people) have prediabetes, the ominous stage where a person’s blood sugar is higher than normal but not (yet) high enough to meet the clinical definition of diabetes.  Even more concerning: the CDC has said that most people with prediabetes and 1 in 4 people with type 2 diabetes don’t even know they have it … even if they have multiple warning signs.  Do you know what these signs are?

Are you at risk of developing this severe chronic disease? Don’t miss these warning signs

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t just affect blood sugar; virtually every organ in the body can be damaged due to the effects of this chronic disease.  This explains why people with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of potentially life-threatening complications such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, vision loss, skin infections, and dementia.

It’s not all bad news – type 2 diabetes can be well-managed with interventions including diet, exercise, and medications.  But the medical and scientific communities agree that the sooner this condition is diagnosed and treated, the better the outcomes are likely to be.

According to Cleveland Clinic, there are at least six common warning signs of type 2 diabetes to look out for:

1. Frequent urination, especially at night
2. Frequent yeast infections or urinary tract infections
3. Unintended weight loss (losing weight without actively trying)
4. Frequent or persistent fatigue and exhaustion
5. Discoloration of the skin, especially near the neck and knuckles
6. Worsening vision and/or the need to frequently change eyewear prescription

If any of these signs sound familiar to you – and/or have any known risk factors for type 2 diabetes, including obesity, sedentary lifestyle, family history, or high triglycerides – consult with your healthcare provider right away.

Here are 4 key ways to prevent type 2 diabetes or prediabetes

Sound management of chronic disease is great – prevention is even better.  And since it’s been said that type 2 diabetes may reduce average life expectancy by as much as 10 years, avoiding this troubling condition can definitely make a huge impact on your quality (and length) of life.

As with many chronic diseases, type 2 diabetes is strongly related to lifestyle factors, which means that improving your daily health habits is essential for prevention.  Focus on:

1. Exercise regularly (at least 150 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise per week).
2. Avoid sitting for too long; walk around or do some light movement at least once or twice per hour.
3. Maintain a healthy weight.
4. Eat lots of fruits and veggies while cutting back on processed and sugary foods.

Source for this article include:

TheLancet.com
Diabetes.org.uk
Medlineplus.gov
CDC.gov
MayoClinic.org
Clevelandclinic.org
Studyfinds.org
CDC.gov
CDC.gov